By Tapas Mukherjee

The western Indian state of Gujarat has always been a soft target of terrorists in spite of hard surveillance. The pride of its being a nationally important 'entrepreneurial hub and a money spinner' only adds fuel to terrorists' fire.

The situation has prompted important establishments to install sophisticated security equipments to protect their interest. Commercial banks take a leading role in the field.

The later part of 1980s witnessed the banks adopting shriller emergency alarm systems replacing outdated models. The marketing agencies for the new ones had assured that the sound would even reach the nearest police station, and wake up the valiant policemen from their afternoon siesta.

Such a full proof alarm system found its way to Naroda Industrial Area that emerged as the hub of some of India's top most industrial houses. The top most national bank also adopted the system for its Naroda branch. Nothing could be left to chance. To the problem of communally divided restive local population coupled with deteriorating crime situation was added the threat from religious terrorists.

The presence of a bustling diamond market at nearby Bapunagar enhanced the sweetness of the honey attracting more and more stinging bees. Being at the intersection of National Highways 8 and 59, it lent the criminals attractive getaway-lee-ways.

TBG, a deputy general manager of the top most bank, was aware of the volatile situation when he was scheduled to inspect the Naroda branch, some 12 kilometers away from the main city, Ahmedabad, into the state's northeast suburban expanse.

As a preemptive measure, he decided to arrive a day earlier and visit the bank incognito to take stock of the situation. He was accosted at the main door by an effusively smiling branch manager with a bouquet of flowers. A friend told me you were coming on a 'surprise visit,' so I thought I would welcome you personally, Sir. Well, a case of blown secrecy, TBG sighed.

Next morning he plunged himself into work, auditing advances and collaterals, deposit-advance ratios etc. Branch staffs were coming in and went out of the room assigned to him on one pretext or the other to steal a look of the file under inspection. The branch manager received the dreaded information that there were too many 'red for review' marks.

The placid ambiance was suddenly shattered with the emergency SOS alarm going off. There was a short shrill buzz. TBG jerked up his head from the file.? Somebody must have immobilized the bell ringer for it stopped before the elongated high and low of an usual siren.

TBG's mind was racing over the immediate course of action. He quietly came out of his room, and looked through the glass door of the branch manager's chamber. There a man was discernibly making an emphatic point.TBG mingled with the small number of clients awaiting service, and waited for something to happen. In 1986, there was no cell phone to whip out from one's pocket and call the police.

TBG could not fathom what was holding up a 'hold up' announcement. The queues in front of each counter seemed rooted to the spot. May be the firsts in the lines were there men. The staff had apparently been instructed to act normal.

And then TBG noticed the stocky man in a frayed jungle fatigue entering the bank. In his right hand there was apparently some sort of weapon which he covered with a newspaper in his left hand.

Once inside, he removed the newspaper to unveil a tea kettle hanging from a wire-net contraption that also held half a dozen glasses.

TBG returned to his surveillance of the room, and waited awhile for something to happen. But nothing at all.

Totally confused, TBG approached the branch manager, "Is there a problem? I just heard the alarm go off."

No problem, Sir. We buzz off the alarm at 2.30 to inform the vendor across the street to serve tea.?

What about the police?, asked TBG in amazement.

Well, initially they used to call up the branch as a follow up measure. Now they have also got used to it, Sir.

And what if terrorists strike precisely at that time?, persisted TBG.

Can't answer that question now. My mind is too preoccupied with this terrorism of inspection. To me you are the worst terrorist I need to cope up with right now, Sir.